Tuesday of Week Four Ordinary Time, January30, 2007

Scripture: Hebrews 12:1-4. Psalm 22:26-32. Mark 5:21-43...

Some doctors are very good in their medical field but lack what is called
"bedside manners." They do not relate well with the patient after the
treatment or surgery, but do their job perfectly. Jesus is like a
physician, but he always has very good relational qualities when his
patient is cured. We saw this in all of the miracles so far and the two
today are even more salient for showing Jesus really cares beyond the cure.
We too should care beyond the cures that we affect in our ministries and
work. Like Jesus we are called to support and comfort people when they are
in pain or are mourning the death of a friend or relative. The ones cured
often have a deep desire to trust and relate to Jesus and when he becomes
aware of this, he does heal them. The woman healed of her hemorrhage
certainly has such faith and trust in the healing power of Jesus. Her cure
is intercalated between Jesus going to the home of Jairus and then healing
the little girl of twelve while using his Aramaic speech "Talitha, Kum"
(little one rise). This may indicate for the Christian reader a belief in
the resurrection for it is the same word that is used for that great faith
event that Jesus had and that we will have after this life. But, back to
the woman. Jesus says, "Daughter, your faith has cured you. Go in peace
and be free of your illness." Good bedside manners for Jesus the physician
of body and soul. Then to the little girl's parents, Jesus is very down to
earth and helps the whole family by confirming her rising and
resuscitation. He says, "Give her something to eat." Very good bedside
manners for a doctor! Our first reading from the Epistle to the Hebrews is
also a lesson in faith that is comforting and motivating. I see it
concluding the history of salvation our author is talking about by naming
the saintly heroes of the Hebrew Testament and leading me to think of the
greater panorama of the saints of all times, past, present, and future in
the "Communion of Saints." This is one of the most comforting of doctrines
within the Catholic Church and we are encouraged through faith to become
part of the saints who come marching in. The passage from Hebrews is in
perfect and brilliant Greek and it is directly related to our faith in
Jesus upon whom we are to focus in our daily life. It is made even more
apparent when we relate our faith to the koinonia or fellowship of our
believing communities. "How good and how pleasant it is when we see
brothers and sisters living together in unity." (Psalm 133). The writer
encourages us with these striking words, " let us run with perseverance the
race that is set before us, looking to Jesus the pioneer and perfecter of
our faith, who for the sake of the joy that was set before him endured the
cross, disregarding its shame, and has taken his seat at the right hand of
the throne of God." Let us join that great crowd of witness who surround
God and Jesus and experience the great healing touch of the Divine
Physician. Amen.